First impressions
At first glance, the front of the 3008 SUV is striking with its frameless grille, gloss black side scoops and painted treadplate integrated with the new bumper design. The front headlights have also been redesigned as part of a facelift, featuring LED technology across the range. GT and GT Premium trim levels feature full LED headlights with an extended light signature. Also noteworthy is the “Foggy Mode” function which has replaced the fog lights. It is integrated into LED headlamps and switches on the low beam headlamps with reduced intensity when the rear fog lamps are activated.
Interior focus
The cavernous cabin is cloaked in a rich mix of materials, including full-grain leather, (depending on the trim level) touches of brushed chrome, large expanses of carbon or cloth decoration and plenty of hi-tech equipment. The powered and heated driver and front passenger seats incorporate a massage function. The upmarket textiles cover the door-card inserts, headliner, windscreen pillars and dashboard inlay. A central front armrest with butterfly-wing opening and illuminated air-conditioned storage compartment is tucked behind the centre console.
Other comfort and convenience features include the tailgate, operated via a button on the dash, inside the boot lid or key fob. The boxy-shape boot space provides a capacity of 520 litres with the 60/40 back seats in the upright position; 1,480 litres with rear seats folded flat. Continuing the space theme, cubby holes are also wide, deep and plentiful plus map pockets on the backs of the front seats. The two front door pockets are flock-lined to stop loose items from rattling around.
i-Cockpit
The 3008 features Peugeot’s digital i-Cockpit technology that comprises four elements: a small squared-off steering wheel, head-up instrumentation, high centre console and touchscreen. And it all makes perfect sense, providing an insulated and cocooned feel to the cockpit.
The small-diameter steering wheel has been redesigned with two flats to make it easier to grip and provide the driver with improved visibility and legroom. While you can easily see the instrument cluster over the steering wheel – rather than peering through it – it does require a little seat adjustment. It also requires less steering effort when parking and manoeuvring around corners in town.
The reconfigurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster – positioned directly in the driver’s line of sight and above the sports steering wheel – offers five different display modes, controlled from a button on the steering wheel. The read-outs are clear and crisp.
Positioned on the raised centre console is an eight-inch tablet-style touchscreen that is equipped with capacitive technology and angled toward the driver. The touchscreen displays the usual vehicle information – such as trip data and fuel economy – and images from the rearview parking camera.
Beneath the touchscreen is a row of six chrome-plated toggle piano keys to control the radio, HVAC (subsequently using cabin temperature sliders on the touchscreen), sat-nav, vehicle parameters and phone applications.
Infotainment and connectivity
The 3008 is offered in six trim levels – starting with the Active, rising to the Active Premium. Allure, Allure Premium, GT and top-drawer GT Premium. From Active Premium level up, all models come standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Screen. There is no shortage of USB sockets to power up mobile devices (two in the front and two in the back). Another noteworthy addition is the new loudspeaker grilles (tweeters and centre channel), which comes in a ‘belem bronze’ metal effect finish.
Advanced driver assistance systems
The 3008 comes equipped with a suite of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technologies as standard, including active lane departure warning; driver attention warning; automatic adaptive headlamp main-beam; speed limit sign recognition and recommendation; adaptive cruise control with stop function (automatic gearboxes); active blind-spot monitoring. For manoeuvring around towns and cities, Visio Park (360° all-around vision) and Park Assist do the job.
It also comes with night vision that improves driving safety by enhancing the driver’s ability to detect potentially dangerous situations beyond the range of the headlamps. During night-time driving, when a disproportionate number of collisions occur, certain situations such as a person changing a tyre on the side of the road, or an animal in the roadway, may not be visible with the naked eye until it is too late. The 3008 uses an infrared camera to detect people or animals in front of the vehicle at night or in low-visibility conditions. The system can detect objects within a 250-metre range, beyond the headlights’ scope and present on a head-up display unit.
On the road
Out and about, this attractive and entertaining SUV felt comfortable and relaxed with few shortcomings. Its plush interior is undeniably well packaged and spacious with some useful infotainment and connectivity features. The i-Cockpit control layout is pleasing to the eye while the infotainment shortcut piano keys make navigating through the various touchscreen menus feel like a breeze. It ticks a lot of boxes for families. Rival models include the Skoda Karoq, Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan.